To Address Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya Membership in Lutheran World Federation

Ov. 5-06

To Address Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya Membership in Lutheran World Federation

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK)

is a partner church body of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in full altar and pulpit fellowship with the same; and

WHEREAS, The ELCK is also a member church of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as indicated by the LWF website (lutheranworld.org/member-churches); and

WHEREAS, The LWF includes member churches such as the heterodox Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that engage in anti-biblical teachings and practices, including the ordination of women and the performance of same-sex “marriages”; and

WHEREAS, Membership in the LWF establishes altar and pulpit fellowship with these member churches and implies agreement with their anti-biblical teachings and practices; and

WHEREAS, Constitution Article VI 2 states as one of the conditions of membership in the Synod the “renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description”; and

WHEREAS, The North Dakota District currently supports the ELCK through Project 24; and

WHEREAS, This support of a church body in fellowship with the LWF suggests fellowship on the part of the district with the LWF;

and

WHEREAS, The President of the Synod (Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2) and Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2) are assigned responsibility for evaluating existing fellowship relations with other church bodies; therefore be it

Resolved, That the district in convention direct the district president to monitor the progress of the President of the Synod and CTCR regarding ELCK and LWF fellowship; and be it further

Resolved, That the district president report to the spring pastors’ conferences in 2025, 2026, and 2027 and through district media;

and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention be memorialized to reevaluate the partner church body status of the ELCK in view of the ELCK’s membership in the LWF.

North Dakota District